Public Statements

Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 - Continued

Floor Speech

Mr. COBURN. Madam President, this is simply an amendment that says if a woman is raped and there is an article of indictment against the rapist, she ought to have a right to know the sexually transmitted diseases that rapist carries.

I reserve the remainder of my time.

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Mr. COBURN. The people who oppose it oppose it on the grounds they might not get as much money unless they actually keep a woman from getting raped twice--once by the system we set up and once by their attacker.

If Senators vote against this, what they are saying is they don't have any compassion for the women who don't know the status of the person who raped them. Therefore, they go under treatment; they go through unknown and severe psychological stress, having to be repeatedly tested.

We put this in the bill the last time at 5 percent. All we did this time is raise it to 20 percent to try to reduce this behavior in the States.

The chairman of the Judiciary Committee voted for this last time. So to say what we are doing is not in the best interests of women is wrong. If someone really thinks women ought to get raped twice, vote against this amendment.